EXCLUSIVE: Travellers ‘need more warnings on toxic air’

AIRLINE passengers should be made more aware of the potential dangers of breathing contaminated air, a travel watchdog warned last night, after 15 holidaymakers suffered stinging eyes, sore throats, coughing, and nausea.

Organophosphate poisoning is a little-known threat that faces passengers and crew [GETTY]

They were flying from Bulgaria to Manchester when they were hit by a “fume event”. Some of the passengers have had breathing problems since their flight in June.

Holiday TravelWatch was told the travellers saw crew administer oxygen shortly after take-off and a “grey mist” appeared in the middle of the cabin, close to the wings.

Experts said the descriptions had all the hallmarks of a fume event in which the air is contaminated by organophosphates from a jet engine oil leak. The Sunday Express has campaigned for openness about this danger, which pilots say is far more frequent than is officially reported.

Frank Brehany, consumer director for Holiday TravelWatch, said passengers had a “right to know” about fume events so they can make their own medical checks. He said the 15 passengers on the Manchester flight were told nothing. His warning comes just days after a post-mortem report on British Airways pilot Richard Westgate, who died aged 43 in December 2012.

This subject was one of the worst cases of organophosphate poisoning I have come across

Professor Mohamed Abou-Donia

In the months before his death, Mr Westgate complained of being poisoned by years of fume events. He was buried in January last year but his organs were preserved for tests.

Last week, Professor Mohamed Abou-Donia, renowned for his work on Gulf War Syndrome, said: “This subject was one of the worst cases of organophosphate poisoning I have come across.” He found Mr Westgate had suffered “extensive neurological damage” from repeated low dosage exposures to the toxins.

Prof Abou-Donia said the repeated dosage was “constantly overlooked” by the aviation industry.

Aviation medics believe Mr Westgate was in a small category of people whose genetic make-up renders them more vulnerable.

The aviation industry disputes the frequency and long-term effects of fume events. “Aerotoxic syndrome” is often mistaken for depression or chronic fatigue syndrome.

British Airways would not comment on Mr Westgate’s case but has always stressed it places the highest emphasis on the wellbeing of its passengers and crew.